Author: Muindi

Kenya’s equity markets opened the new year with solid gains, signaling renewed investor confidence. Prices rose 1.8%, driven largely by the top 10 most liquid counters, which advanced 2.3%. The NSE 25 and NSE 20 indices also posted gains of 2.1% and 1.3% respectively. The banking sector led the rally, climbing 2.6% on early investor positioning ahead of the March earnings season. Market Activity Despite the upbeat start, overall market activity was subdued: Turnover fell 25.2% to KES 1.07Bn from KES 1.43Bn, reflecting the extended festive period. Volumes traded rose 9.5% to 47.74Mn shares, boosted by a 164.6% surge in…

East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has announced that the High Court has allowed regulatory approval processes for a contested transaction to continue, despite an application filed by Bia Tosha Distributors Limited. High Court Allows Regulatory Processes to Proceed In its ruling delivered on Wednesday, the Court directed that all regulatory approvals and preliminary statutory steps for the transaction should move forward as planned. The Judge underscored the significance of the transaction, declining to halt or paralyse the regulatory process. Temporary Preservation Order Issued Until January 20, 2026 The Court, however, issued a temporary preservation order restraining only the final steps…

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba officially presented the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results to President William Ruto, a milestone for nearly one million learners. The 2025 cohort saw a total of 993,000 candidates sit for the national examinations, which were conducted between October 21 and November 14, 2024. In a historic achievement for gender parity in education, girls accounted for exactly 50% of the total candidature. Key Performance Highlights The 2025 results show a competitive academic landscape, with a notable number of students securing spots in higher education. Elite Scorers: 1,932 candidates achieved the coveted Grade A…

Kenya’s economy grew by 4.9% in the third quarter of 2025, up from 4.2% in the same period of 2024, even as the country’s external trade deficit widened sharply. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) show that growth was driven by agriculture, construction, and mining, while imports surged from Asia, straining foreign‑exchange reserves. Agriculture, Construction and Mining Lead Growth The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector expanded by 3.2%, reinforcing its role as a key driver of Kenya’s economy. The construction sector rebounded strongly, swinging from a 2.6% contraction in Q3 2024 to 6.7% growth in Q3 2025.…

Global retailer Carrefour is set to enter Ethiopia through a franchise and supply partnership with Queens Supermarket PLC, a subsidiary of Midroc Investment Group. The deal will see Midroc’s retail network transition under the Carrefour banner, with the first outlets expected to be rebranded by the first half of 2026. The partnership initially covers 13 existing stores, with plans to expand to 30 outlets by 2028. Carrefour will provide its branding, product range, and operational support, while Midroc will lead day‑to‑day operations locally. Strategy Alignment: Carrefour 2026 The move is part of Carrefour’s “Carrefour 2026” strategic plan, which emphasises franchise‑led…

In a transformative move for East Africa’s extractive sector, Sofax Fluorspar Kenya Ltd and China’s Mizztech Group have officially entered the execution phase of the Kerio Valley Fluorspar Project. On December 11, 2025, the entities signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to refurbish the region’s dormant processing plant, signaling a full-scale revival of Kenya’s fluorspar industry. The agreement follows a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in August 2025. Sofax Fluorspar Kenya, the project operator, holds a 25-year mining license (ML/2025/0216) granted in July 2025, valid until 2050. The Global and Local Fluorspar Outlook The revival comes at…